kimquat said

I need recommendations, Steepsterites!

Hi fellow tea fanatics!

I’m currently in the process of drinking down teas in my cupboard to make room for new ones. For the most part I’m looking for unflavored teas from China. I’m especially drawn to black and white teas, and there are specific flavors that I look for in each.

In black teas, I love finding notes of grain, malt, nuts, cocoa, caramel, stone fruits, cream, honey, and baked bread. Medium to full body and thick consistency are a plus. I had a Tan Yang recently that included all of these and I fell in love. I’m searching for more Tan Yang teas, as well as others from Fujian and Yunnan. I’ve been looking at companies like Yunnan Sourcing, Teaspring, Jing Tea Shop, and Shang Tea, but I’m not entirely sure what I’m looking for.

I’m still fairly new to white teas, but I know that I dislike those that taste vegetal or have an overwhelmingly strong citrus flavor. I’ve enjoyed both Bai Mu Dan and silver needle. On the rare occasion that I’ve found a malty white tea, I love it too. Butiki’s White Rhino comes to mind. Verdant’s Bai Mu Dan and Nannuoshan’s Yin Zhen are another two of my favorites. Nuts, vanilla, flowers, honey, and fruit are flavors that I eagerly look for. I’m also very curious about aged white teas. Yabao is one that I’m a fan of. It’s the notes of wood, evergreen, and spice that I find appealing.

What do you consider some of the best white or black teas? Which companies are your favorites when it comes to straight/unflavored?

Are there any others who love both white and black teas as much as I do? It seems kind of strange to me: to like two types of tea that fall on opposite ends of the spectrum. Most people lean one way or the other.

Thanks in advance! Love and gratitude, everyone.

13 Replies

You’ll love this one https://shopmandalatea.com/white-tea/white-night.html Mandala Tea’s White Night. It’s a white that’ll turn into a black tea with some age.

Sil select said

I can add a sample of this to the tea we’re swapping if you’d like Kimquat

kimquat said

I think I received a sample of this with one of my first Mandala orders. It was before I started to like white teas. By now, it’s either swapped or forgotten in the back of my cupboard. If you could send some that would be great Sil!

OMGsrsly said

Oh my goodness! Thanks for the recommendation. :D

Sil select said

lol do i need to send some to you too omg?

OMGsrsly said

I would appreciate 1 serving to try! :)

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boychik said

I’m not white tea person but almost any Shang tea I tried I love. They have delicious aged white. It’s like white transforming into black. Amazing

kimquat said

I’ll definitely have to give it a try!

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cookies said

The Mandala tea is a moonlight white, which I recommend looking for from a variety of sellers. I’m also a fan of What-cha’s Premium Kenyan White which may or may not be the same tea as Butiki’s White Rhino. Very rich for a white tea with notes of malt, caramel, honeysuckle and corn. Definitely worth a try.

kimquat said

I didn’t realize that “moonlight white” goes through a specific kind of processing. I had to look into it. Thank you for sharing!

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For a black tea I would really recommend Verdant Tea’s Laoshan black. It seems like it would fall into the type of black teas that you like. I’m not a huge black tea drinker myself, but honestly, I restock it every time I get low. As for whites, Teavivre has some nice ones available, but I can’t say I drink enough white tea to really know. Hope that helps!

kimquat said

Weirdly enough, Laoshan Black doesn’t really appeal to me. I’ve loved every other black tea that I’ve tried from Verdant! Maybe all the hype set my expectations too high. I haven’t tried any of Teavivre’s white teas, so I’ll be sure to look into that. Thanks!

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AllanK said

White Ambrosia by Simpson and Vail is excellent.
http://www.svtea.com/White-Ambrosia/productinfo/T0895/

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